EU expert panel urges social media restrictions for children under 13

An EU panel of experts has recommended restricting social media access for children under the age of 13 across the bloc, saying it should be allowed only under parental supervision or in educational settings, reported dpa.

The recommendations were presented in a report in Brussels on Monday, as governments around the world debate how best to protect children and teenagers online following Australia's decision to ban social media for under-16s in late 2025.

The experts advised against children under 2 years old using social media at all.

From 13, teenagers should increasingly be given independent access to age-appropriate social media platforms, said Jörg Fegert, co-author of the report and medical director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Ulm University Hospital.

Several EU countries, including Spain, Greece, Germany and Austria, have announced plans to introduce a legal ban on social media for minors up to a certain age.

But any attempt to implement age limits on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat is likely to require action at the EU level, as the European Commission is responsible for enforcing rules on major online platforms within the bloc, and national laws must be compatible with EU legislation.

In the report, which was commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the experts said they favour member states being able to set higher age limits in addition to the EU-wide baseline rules.

Von der Leyen has recently voiced concern about the impact of social media on children, pointing to Australia's ban on social media access for children under 16 as a model.

She said on Monday that a phased approach for different age groups should be considered, adding that Brussels would put forward a legislative proposal after the summer.

Under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), social media giants are already legally required to take measures to protect minors online.

Many platforms have a minimum age limit of 13 years old to comply with EU data protection regulations, but the experts said existing rules must be more comprehensively enforced.

Last week, the European Commission found Meta - the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp - in breach of the DSA due to the addictive design of its platforms and the ensuing harm to users, including minors.